Improvement in harvesters



A. D. BRIGGS.

Harvester Dropper.

Patented Feb. 16, 1858.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFicE.

ALBERT D. BRIGGS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 19.344, dated February 16, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. Braces, of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of my improvement. Fig.2is a detached side elevation of the working parts of the samef Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to separate the cut grain, while being discharged in proper quantities from the machine to form sheaves or gavels, from the grain being cut, so that the latter cannot become mixed with the former and prevent the proper discharge thereof from the machine at regular intervals, and in a compact and perfect manner, the grain being discharged from the machine either automatically or manually.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the frame of a harvester, which is supported by two wheels, B O-one at each 'sideand D is the sickle or cutting device, at. tached to the front end of the frame A.

E is an endless apron, which is placed in the frame A, directly back of the sickle D, the

rollers a of said apron being parallel with the sickle D. Two ledges, b b, are attached to the frame Aone at each side of the apronsaid ledges forming sides for the apron and extending its whole length.

To each ledge b, and at its inner side, a plate,

E, is connected by a joint, 0, so that said plates may be moved in and out, and secured at any desired point by hooks d. or any suitable device.

To the frame A two uprights, e e, are attached, and a horizontal bar, f, is attached to the upper end of each upright. In the front ends of the bars f a shaft, F, is placed; and G is a reel, which is fitted loosely on said shaft.

To the shaft F two arms, g g, are permanently attached-one at each end. These arms have a plate, H, attached to their inner ends, said plate being equal in width to the endless apron,

and forming, as will be hereinafter shown, the office of a gate or cut-0E.

To the inner end of the .axle h of the wheel B a wheel, I, is attached. This wheel has a portion of its periphery cogged or toothed, as shown at i, Fig. 2. the teeth 1', as the wheel I rotates, gearing into a pinion, J, at the inner end of the front roller, a, of the apron.

On the axle h a cam, K, is placed; or the axle It may be said to pass through said cam, which is a noval rim formed of two parts, t" t", of circles having a notch, j, at their points ofjunction. (See more particularly Fig. 2.) The cam K has two parallel guide-bars, k 76, attached to it, the axle It being between said bars.

To the wheel I a pin, I, is attached, said pin, as the wheel I rotates, working within the cam K. The cam K is attached to the lower end ofa bar, L, the upper end of which is connected to an arm, M, on one end of the shaft F.

Theoperationis as follows: As themachineis drawn along the grain is cut by the sickle D in the usualmanner,the sickle beingdriven byany proper means from the wheel B, and the reel G presents the standing grain to the cutters, as usual, the reel being rotated from the working parts by a belt or any suitable device or arrangement. The endless apron E is moved interinittingly in consequence of the periphery of the wheel 1 being partially toothed, and the gate H is also vibrated or moved intermittin g] y in the direction indicated by arrows 2. This intermittent vibratory motion is produced by the cam K at the lower end of bar L, in connection with the pin Z, which works. within said cam, and the arm M, to which the upper end of bar L is attached. The pin 1, as the wheel I rotates, catches alternately into the notches j and gives the vibratory movement, the dwells being obtained in consequence of the pin passing out of the notches at the ends of the strokes and bearing against the segment portions t" i of the cam. When the plate or gate H is in an elevated state the apron E is stationary, and the grain, as it is cut, is thrown by the reel G on said apron. VVh'en the gate H descends and reaches its lowest point, the lower edge of the gate then resting on the inner edge or part of the finger-bar, the apron E begins to move and discharges the cut grain from its back end. \Vhile the grain is being discharged from apron E the plate or gate H receives the grain as it is out, and the instant the grain is discharged from the apron E the gateHrises and the a-pronE ceases to move, the grain received by plate or gate H falling on the apron, and the cut grain, while the gate H remains in an elevated state, passing on the apron E, a-sufficient quantity being thereon to form a sheaf by the time the gate H descends and the apron begins again to move. By this means it will be seen that the gate H serves as a cut-off and receiver, and while receiving the grain being cut prevents it from mixing with the grain that is being discharged; or, in other words, the grain, while being discharged in sufficient quantities to form sheaves or gavels, is cut off from the grain that is out while the former is being discharged, so that the two cannot be mixed, and the grain therefore will be discharged in compact form on the ground.

I would remark that the apron F is designed to move with a speed equal to the machine, and as the upper part of the apron moves in a reverse direction to the machine the movement of the latter, so far as the discharging of the grain is concerned, will be neutralized, and the grain will be discharged compactly and evenly on the stubble.

I would also remark that in case the grain is not dry one of the plates Eis adjusted obliquely over the apron E, as shown in Fig. 3. By this means the grain is discharged in thin layers and in even form, so that it may quickly dry. In case, however, that the grain isperperfectly dry while being out, both plates E are adjusted obliquely over the apron, so that the grain may be discharged in more compact form ready for binding. If only one plate is adjusted obliquely over the apron, the one nearest the standing grain is thus moved, in order that the grain may be discharged from the machine a sufficient distance from the standing grain and allow a free or unobstructed space for the team to walk in.

From the above description it will be seen that the apron E discharges the cut grain from the machine automatically. This apron may be dispensed with, a stationary platform used, and the grain raked off said platform by hand; but the intermittinglymoving apron is of course preferable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the intermittingly-vibrating gate H, intermittingly-moving apron l), and adjustable plates E E, placed over the apron E, arranged as shown, so as to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

ALBERT D. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

R. F. HAwKtNs, I. B. Hzmars. 

